Burnham challenged to lift PA ban

Defend Our Juries has announced another action defying the ban on Palestine Action, this time on 27 September outside Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This is a clear test of the resolve of new PM Andy Burnham.

At the end of July, another 117 people were arrested for taking part in another demonstration against the proscription of Palestine Action. Defend Our Juries now claims over 3,500 people have been arrested in similar actions.

The Metropolitan police, who previously announced that they would no longer comply with the unworkable legislation, have now resumed arrests. This is not because the legislation has become workable – few of the thousands arrested have been charged, let alone tried - but because the government put increased pressure on them with the overturning of the original high court decision in February that the government’s decision was unlawful.

The government’s case at the Court of Appeal succeeded in June, reinstating the proscription. Huda Ammori, PA founder, has now been granted the right to appeal this decision at the Supreme Court, with the case being heard later this year. And four people in a March 2025 action at the Bristol headquarters of Elbit Systems have had a hung jury on the criminal damage charges they face, though they may face a re-trial.

The fact that a protest group was put in the same category as organisations who have committed actual atrocities against civilians would be laughable if it weren’t so serious. The Labour movement must put pressure on Burnham to reverse the decision and release all those facing charges or trial for exercising their right to protest. §